Called to be faithful servants, sharing the good news of God's grace

Church Pastor | Staff Page

Reverend Coralee Cox

Elder and Lead Pastor

The Rev. Coralee Cox is the 43rd pastor of Union Avenue United Methodist Church and its first woman elder and lead pastor. Born in Youngstown and raised in Struthers, she graduated from Struthers High School in 1971.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Youngstown State University in 1975, and a Master's degree in Community Agency Counseling in 1987, also from YSU. She also attended George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Coralee worked as a counselor/case coordinator for almost nine years at the Youth Services Unit of the Western Reserve Care System, an inpatient psychiatric floor for children and adolescents, before she received a call to ordained ministry. She entered seminary in 1989 at the age of 36. She attended the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (Delaware, OH), received a Master of Divinity degree in 1992, and was appointed to serve as the Pastor of Discipleship Ministries for the Mayfield United Methodist Church, east of Cleveland.

After 15 years in Mayfield, she was appointed to serve the Roscoe United Methodist Church in Coshocton for five years before being assigned to serve as senior pastor of the Union Avenue UMC beginning July 1, 2012. In addition to her passion for teaching the Bible, she also enjoys playing the piano and organ as often as she can. Coralee has played the piano since age 6, and for seven years she thoroughly enjoyed playing the church organ and directing the choir at her home church in Struthers.

Reverend Dave Andrews

Minister of Pastoral Care

Phone: 330-938-1090

The Rev. Dave Andrews served four congregations for more than 40 years as an Ordained Elder in the East Ohio Conference. Since his retirement in 2008, he has been an interim pastor and a supply pastor, forming caring ministry teams in three out of the four congregations he has served.

His passion is to help be a calming and healing presence in stressful times, in the lives of the people and the church, and to reassure us that the real presence of Jesus and his love is surrounding us in all circumstances. Please contact Pastor Dave if you or a family member is in the hospital, a care facility or at home and would like to receive a pastoral visit.